Participant Perspectives

Looking back over the past few weeks/months, how do you think training helped you in sobriety?

Has given me time to concentrate without the thought of drinking. Helps with my relaxing techniques. Stress reliever.
It has helped me a lot. Physical exercise has been a huge part of my mental health and being able to get out of the house on Sundays to exercise has helped my sobriety a lot.
It helps by getting in the habit of exercising and feeling good about myself. Each time I went out training I feel good after and also I always look forward to going each Sunday. Now I run with our dog twice a day and it is a breeze cause of the training I’m doing now. It really changed my perception of how I can do anything I put my mind to.
Training has helped me build myself back up and get myself motivated again.
It helped me to try new things and I actually started to work out a lot due to training. It got me to want to get healthy.
Training was a reminder to me that life is too beautiful to waste away.
Training for this run has given me a bond with my fellow brothers in the house that I’ve never had before. And I’m grateful for it.
It makes me feel good about myself.
Training helped me focus on something other than my addiction.
Very therapeutic for me. My mind was taken to a different level such as thinking more positive of what the future has in hands for me. Took me to a place of no negativity.

Training taught me:

Self-discipline, determination, how to endure or do something that I am not used to doing.
To push myself even when I don’t think I can, that I can do a lot more than what I think I can do which is huge in sobriety.
Anything is possible that I put my mind to. I know that I can, it’s no longer I can’t do it.
How to be part of a team and to encourage others to train also. I learned to rely on my team to get through it.
That I can have fun with my brothers while doing physical exercise.
That I can do things in recovery that I used to do before I started using. It also taught me that I can push myself past where my body wants me to get.
Willingness, strength, and power, and drive.
Discipline and that by accomplishing goals, I will feel better about myself.
Patience
With hope and determination, we can do it.
Not to give up. When I’m feeling anxiety, “Walk it out!”
Stress relief techniques. Good breathing habits. How to enjoy the scenery around me.

What it means to me to be part of this team:

Sense of worth, belonging. Special group of people who have the same disease in common but able to work as a team to accomplish something.
It means a lot. My brothers in the house mean everything to me so being a part of this team has been a great experience. We have gone through this together, so it’s been really cool.
For me personally I think it makes me feel a part of something bigger. Also, I get to do this walk for my sister, who passed away, and tell others about her story.
It is cool to be a part of a group of guys that want to do better for their physical lives.
A part of a new beginning with my sober sisters.
It means a lot to me. The longer I stay sober, the more I feel a part of all the things we do together as a group in this program. I have a large support system and I didn’t have anything like this before I got here.
Being part of a team means everything. We win together and we cry together. It is a reminder that we never have to be alone.
It means a lot to me because I know I can be the inspiration someone else might need to save their life. My life is just beginning here and now.
I am excited to support my sober sisters and cross a very literal finish line together. This team is symbolic of our recovery and strength together.
It makes me feel like home and I have a family again.